Amber is expanding its V2G program to 1,000 Australian homes - the largest residential V2G rollout this country has ever seen, backed by an additional $13.6 million in funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).
Today, we made the announcement from the Lidcombe home of Amber customer Ken Chung, one of the real households at the heart of this trial, joined by Federal Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen, local MP Sally Sitou, ARENA CEO Darren Miller, and Amber's own Head of V2G Clare Rainbow.
With nearly 6,000 Australians already on the waitlist and a commercial product planned for 2026, this is the moment V2G moves from trial to mainstream - and the moment Australia stakes its claim as the world leader in this technology.
From 50 chargers to 1,000 homes
The 50-charger trial wasn't just a test of the technology. It was a test of everything: the software, the economics, the market readiness and whether real customers in real homes could genuinely benefit. The results made the case.
A Victorian household eliminated their EV’s energy costs and generated an additional $1200 in savings over a 12 month period. A South Australian customer earned $500 in one afternoon during a summer heatwave. In between these price spikes, customers are storing their solar or cheap grid energy, then powering their homes from their EVs. No minimum plug-in time. No fixed tariffs. No sharing the earnings. Just Amber's platform connecting their EV directly to wholesale prices and doing the work automatically.
Now we're doing it at 20 times the scale.
Why this expansion matters
V2G has been talked about in Australia for years. What's been missing is the combination of manufacturer commitment, smart software and a direct connection to the wholesale market that makes it actually worth the customer's time.
The expanded trial includes the installation of V2G-capable chargers into customers' homes, with smart software integrated directly with Amber to give access to wholesale prices and maximise the value of every charge and discharge.
Amber's approach is different to other V2G offerings in the market. Most plans ask you to accept a fixed tariff in exchange for access to your car’s battery - you give up control and get a set rate in return. Amber connects you directly to wholesale prices, so when the grid is under pressure and prices spike, your car earns the full value of that moment. Whether that's powering your home through vehicle-to-home technology, storing excess solar, or selling energy back to the grid - the platform handles the decisions and you keep the earnings. Real money back in people's pockets, and a grid that relies less on gas and coal.
With BYD's warranty commitment carrying forward into the expanded trial, the last major concern for prospective participants is gone. Amber Co-CEO Chris Thompson said:
"Our initial rollout proved it works. 1,000 homes proves it scales. We've already seen a South Australian customer earn $500 in a single afternoon during a heatwave - customers can now save thousands annually through V2G. This expansion positions Australia as a world leader, and we see a future where millions of Australians buying EVs in the next few years can do the same."
Australia is setting the standard
With nearly 6,000 Australians now on the V2G waitlist and a commercial product planned for 2026, the momentum is real. Independent verification of the trial's outcomes will be led by enX, giving regulators, policymakers and industry partners the validated evidence to build the right frameworks around V2G technology.
ARENA CEO Darren Miller said the expansion would address the key barriers that have held V2G back at scale:
"To unlock V2G at scale, we need to bring together customers, car makers, networks and technology providers. This project brings those pieces together to demonstrate how EVs can become an active part of the energy system. That means savings for owners and better utilisation of the grid, which can bring down the cost of the network for everyone."
Australia already has the wholesale market structure, the solar and battery adoption, and now the V2G program to lead the world in this space.
Get involved
If you've been watching V2G from the sidelines, now's the time to get in line.
Whether you already have a V2G-capable EV or you're planning to get one in the future, Join the V2G waitlist to stay across developments and be part of Australia's biggest residential V2G rollout. We expect more manufacturers to join our trial in the near future.
